Find Your Purrfect Match

May 04, 2007

A cat can be a wonderful addition to the family. Contrary to popular belief, many cats are very social animals and love attention. This June, for Adopt-A-Cat MonthÂ®, celebrate the rare grace of cats by bringing home a new feline friend.

"There are many benefits to owning a cat," says Rose Ordile, handler and companion for 9Lives'Â® famous finicky feline, MorrisÂ® the cat, himself a former real shelter cat. "Bringing a cat into your home is a large commitment and there are number of things families should consider when choosing to adopt a cat."

Having a pet teaches children responsibility, and recent studies have shown the incredible calming effect cats have on humans, causing blood pressure to drop and the heart rate to slow.

70 million furry orphans sit out their days in a shelter yearning for more attention and a loving home. This summer, help combat overpopulation and consider improving your life with a cat's companionship.

How to Choose?

Local shelter workers are trained to ensure that people adopting pets are fully aware of the responsibility that comes with caring for a cat. They are also very skilled at 'matching' people with pets to ensure a great fit between the adopter and their new family member.

Ordile adds, "Consider features such as age, personality and whether you want a short or long-haired cat before beginning your search. While playful kittens are hard to resist, adult cats are often better suited for small children. Remember the longer your cat's coat, more brushing is needed to prevent painful matting."

Welcome Home!

In order to ease into your home, take into consideration where your cat came from. Was she staying in a cage, in a room, or in a foster home? Were there other cats living with her, or was she alone? Was the environment noisy or quiet? How often did she eat, and where did she sleep?

Changing all of these factors in her environment all at once can be very stressful. In order to integrate your new cat into your house as smoothly as possible, you must be able to recognize the signs of stress while changing her living situation slowly over time. With this method, you are initially maintaining her previous routine, while she gradually adapts to your routine over time.

Cats often eat less when they are stressed, and sometimes they stop eating altogether. It is extremely important to make sure that your cat is eating adequate amounts of food regularly once you have brought him home. If possible, buy the same type of food that the shelter used. If he is not eating, try mixing a little bit of tastier food, such as canned cat food or baby food, into his meal. With such an emotional investment, choosing a food that is complete and balanced in nutrition while still being great tasting is very important, as one finicky shelter cat, MorrisÂ®, can testify.

After two days, or once he is eating regularly, gradually incorporate the new food that you would like to feed him.

A healthy cat can live for up to 20 years, so provide the highest quality of life for your new companion and the rewards will be immeasurable.